Aylsham has been named the best town in the Pride in Norfolk awards.It lifted the accolade for the top community with more than 5,000 population, with judges praising the friendly atmosphere and appearance of the busy market town.

Aylsham has been named the best town in the Pride in Norfolk awards.

It lifted the accolade for the top community with more than 5,000 population, with judges praising the friendly atmosphere and appearance of the busy market town.

Susan Warr, chairman of the Norfolk Federation of Women's Institutes who were among the judging panel, said the town had “a wealth of enthusiasm and a vibrant community life with integration at all ages in every aspect of the town's activities”.

“Aylsham was described by an 11-year-old as being somewhere that 'you could walk down the street and it seems that everyone knows you',” she added.

There was a runner-up spot for Coltishall in the under 2,500 section, pipped by Northwold, with senior judge Shirley Matthews saying it was “ a lovely village with a strong service base, where people do not sit back and take it all for granted.”

And Tracey Bayfield of Blakeney was among the runners up in the clerk of the year award, won by Loddon job sharers Karen Read and Christine Smith.

The judges of the community awards are drawn from the five organisations involved - CPRE Norfolk, Norfolk WI, Norfolk Association of Town and Parish Councils, Norfolk Rural Community Council and the county council.

Awards will be presented at County Hall, Norwich, on Thursday, September 18.